Our Walk In Remembrance of Lost Species
photos by Joanna Streetly's talented daughter Toby
We walked, people of all ages
and a dozen big goofy, happy dogs,
from the fire, across the tombolo
to Ts'ix-wat-sats,
just before sunset.
“Despair is an indulgence,”
Joanna quoted.
“Let’s set our minds towards hope.”
We walked, mindfully,
single file, and I pondered.
I have been discouraged.
What could I bring back
to the communal fire
that was about hope?
It came to me, like the silver gleam
on the shimmering sea.
The shamans say
we are at a critical moment
in the evolution of the soul
of this planet.
As awareness of climate change
increases, we begin, of necessity,
to evolve.
This is, if we will it,
a transformative moment.
The people – we, ourselves -
can make the evolutionary leap
beyond those who are fixated on money.
It is within our power – our possibility –
to move with the winds of change,
creating other ways of being
with the earth
than the old, tired ways
The people – we, ourselves -
can make the evolutionary leap
beyond those who are fixated on money.
It is within our power – our possibility –
to move with the winds of change,
creating other ways of being
with the earth
than the old, tired ways
of fossil fuels and death,
of rich billionaires, despairing others.
The soul of our planet is on the cusp
of a Great Awakening.
The bad news:
Nothing will ever be the same again.
The good news:
Nothing will ever be the same again.
of rich billionaires, despairing others.
The soul of our planet is on the cusp
of a Great Awakening.
The bad news:
Nothing will ever be the same again.
The good news:
Nothing will ever be the same again.
For my prompt at earthweal: Beating the Drums of Change - the fresh wind blowing across Canada as First Nations beat their drums and speak truth to colonialism. I stand with them in solidarity.
Oh goodness! This is my new favorite of yours. I love the turn in the poem: "It came to me, like the silver gleam
ReplyDeleteon the shimmering sea." And the ending of the transformation, it's good and bad news. That's Joanna Macy you are quoting, I believe. Gosh. I love when a poem contains the crucial action, and this is the poem of poems for that, wherever we are. Thank you for the photos, too!
I was quoting Joanna Streetly, our Poet Laureate. But Joanna Macy has a similar message. I am so happy you like this one, Susan..........yay.
ReplyDeleteThe soul of our planet is on the cusp of awakening. I believe this and we must open our eyes and see with visionaries of hope.
ReplyDeleteThis is wonder-ful and is the gift which delved from the sea. A prayer for extinct whales. That their vanishing not be lost. - Brendan
ReplyDeleteA lovely, spiritual, mindful walk. A lovely heartfelt and beautiful poem. I loved reading this. I'm having trouble with hope lately. I needed your words to recharge my heart.
ReplyDelete